Chapter 96: Even a Monster! Will Transform to Protect
Inside the castle, the firelight from the fireplace dispelled the bitter cold of the high mountains.
"Where are they... those two idiots?!"
Nami's eyes widened instantly when she heard Dr. Kureha say that Luffy and Tatsuya had climbed thousands of meters up the snowy mountain with their bare hands to save her.
She threw back the thick quilt and was about to get out of bed to check the situation, but as soon as she sat up, a wave of intense dizziness hit her head.
"Ugh..."
Nami's body swayed, and she lay back down weakly.
"You've just recovered from a serious illness; your body still needs time to repair itself."
A small reindeer with a blue nose hid behind the doorframe, showing only half his face, and spoke in a low voice.
Nami sighed helplessly and nodded, then asked weakly, "So, is it just the three of us now?"
"No."
Dr. Kureha took a sip of plum wine and crossed her arms grandly, pointing to a dark shadow snoring in the corner.
"There's also a talking Crow playing dead over there."
...
Meanwhile, outside the castle.
While Luffy and Tatsuya were still sleeping soundly in their room to recover their strength, the once silent peak of the snowy mountain welcomed a group of uninvited guests.
"Hehehe... We finally made it up! This lord is exhausted!"
Wapol, the former king of the Drum Kingdom, stood panting on the snow in front of the castle, accompanied by his two trusted subordinates—Chess the Consultant (an archer) and Kuromarimo the Official (an afro-haired boxer).
Yes, even though he had been kicked into the sea by Tatsuya on the going merry and their ship had been blown away by a cannon shot.
Relying on the tenacious vitality of the Munch-Munch Fruit, which allowed him to eat anything, and the desperate rescue efforts of his subordinates, this guy hadn't drowned.
Instead, he had followed them all the way and climbed this Drum Mountain.
"This is my castle! It's time for me to take it back!"
Wapol opened his huge mouth, crunching on a block of snow with a sinister look in his eyes.
"And while I'm at it, I'll teach those two ignorant pirate brats a lesson! I'll also drive out that 'witch' who's occupying my castle and rule this country once again!"
"Who's making all that noise outside?!"
Hearing the commotion, Chopper quickly rushed out of the castle.
To Chopper, this place was not just a home; it was the site of the gravestone of his benefactor, the "quack" Dr. Hiluluk.
It was also where the skull flag, carrying the dream of the "Miracle Cherry Blossoms," fluttered.
He would never allow anyone to destroy it!
"Huh? Isn't this that blue-nosed reindeer?"
Wapol let out a piercing laugh when he saw Chopper.
Then his gaze fell upon the flag fluttering atop the castle tower, which bore a skull and cherry blossoms.
"That filthy rag of a flag is actually hanging on top of my castle? What an eyesore!"
"That is the Doctor's flag! I won't let you insult it!!" Chopper shouted angrily.
"Hmph, trash like this should disappear!"
Wapol completely ignored Chopper's protest. He opened his mouth wide, his arm transformed into a cannon, and he fired a shot at the top of the tower.
"Boom!!"
The cannonball hit the flagpole with precision.
The wooden pole supporting the skull flag snapped instantly, and the flag symbolizing conviction fell weakly into the wind and snow.
"Ah!! The flag!!" Chopper cried out in horror.
Just as the flag was about to fall.
"You bastard!!! Who told you to fire!!!"
A furious roar echoed from inside the castle.
The sound of gunfire had awakened the sleeping Luffy.
Wearing only his thin red vest and not even any shoes, he charged out of the castle like an infuriated lion.
In that critical moment, Luffy leaped high and grabbed the falling flagpole.
He landed on the tower and, using his own body as support, slammed the skull flag back into the snow!
The cold wind howled, making Luffy's clothes flap loudly, but his eyes were firmer than steel.
"Wahahaha! What kind of crappy flag is that? Playing pirate?" Wapol pointed at Luffy and mocked.
"Shut up!!"
Luffy gripped the flagpole tightly, his voice piercing through the wind and snow, striking awe into the heart:
"This isn't a flag planted here for fun!!"
"This is a flag planted with a life's oath! It's a conviction that will never break, even in the face of death!"
Luffy glared down at Wapol and let out a deafening roar:
"It's not something that people like you, who only know how to mock others... can break!!!"
This scene deeply shocked everyone present.
And at the main gate of the castle.
Tatsuya had also woken up at some point.
He was draped in his black overcoat, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, his black hair fluttering slightly in the wind.
He looked at the Captain on the tower who, despite shivering from the cold, still stood guard over the flag. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes flickered.
"What an... idiot."
Below.
Chopper watched Luffy risking his life for the Doctor's flag, and his heart was profoundly shaken.
He wanted to go up and help fight, but...
"Hehehe, blue-nosed monster! Do you want to defy me too?"
Wapol looked at Chopper and mocked him viciously, "I remember now. You're that monster abandoned by the reindeer herd, aren't you? That blue nose is truly disgusting."
"Mon... monster..."
Chopper's body suddenly stiffened.
His past experiences came rushing back like a tide—being ostracized by his own kind, being shot at by humans, being called a monster.
That bone-deep inferiority made him retreat trembling, wanting to flee back into the castle.
Just then.
Step, step.
The sound of footsteps rang out.
Tatsuya stepped out from the doorway and walked straight to the shivering Chopper.
He slowly crouched down, his gaze level with the little reindeer's.
"Look up," Tatsuya said softly.
Chopper looked up through tears, only to see a pair of eyes that made him shudder yet were incredibly magnificent.
They were Tatsuya's—the crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
In this snow-white world, those red eyes appeared exceptionally eerie, even more frightening than a monster's eyes.
"A monster?"
Tatsuya pointed to his own eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Are you saying... that I, with these red eyes, am also a monster?"
Chopper was stunned, staring blankly at Tatsuya. "Eh?"
These eyes... though scary, were so beautiful.
Moreover, this person didn't show any look of disgust because of his blue nose.
"Listen, Chopper."
Tatsuya reached out and gently touched Chopper's pink antler hat, his tone becoming serious and earnest.
"On this sea, the word 'monster' is not an insult."
"It is... the highest title for the strong."
Tatsuya stood up and looked toward Wapol's group, his aura suddenly becoming sharp.
"Since you want to protect this place, since you want to protect that flag..."
"Then show your fangs and let them see!!"
From the top of the tower, Luffy shouted, "I'm going to send them flying!!" and then charged at Wapol like a cannonball.
"Chess! Kuromarimo! Take down that Straw Hat brat!" Wapol yelled.
Chess and Kuromarimo were about to double-team Luffy.
"Hey, your opponent is over here."
Tatsuya didn't draw his sword. Instead, he reached out and gently pushed the still-dazed Chopper toward the door.
"Go, little raccoon dog."
Tatsuya stood behind Chopper, like a mountain of support.
"Show them... your 'monster' form after you transform."
Feeling the push from behind and looking at the two villains who wanted to destroy the Doctor's grave.
The fear in Chopper's eyes finally vanished.
In its place was a courage he had never felt before.
He leaped out of the snow, took out a Rumble Ball and popped it into his mouth. His body instantly expanded and grew, transforming into a sturdy half-human, half-beast form!
Chopper swung his massive hooves and let out an angry roar at the charging enemies:
"I'm not a raccoon dog!!"
"I am—a reindeer!!!"
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